Photos by Colleen. Please left click on the images to enlarge
No one can be quite sure of the exact date 50 years ago that the choir was formed, but knowing it was in the middle of the year, June 14th was nominated as the Choir’s official birthday. The choir is proud of its tradition of helping local and National charities and was pleased to sing at home on that evening to help the RAOB (The Buffs) help raise funds for its nominated charity this year, the Macmillan Nurses Cancer Trust.
Following opening remarks and tributes by baritone chorister Mervyn Roberts of the RAOB the choir presented a mix of familiar and favourite songs to a warm and enthusiastic audience. Conducted and compered by Assistant Musical Director Shirley Ann James and accompanied by Stephen Berry, the choir opened with its now familiar theme tune, Mansel Thomas’ arrangement of Llanfair and then contrasted with An Evening’s Pastorale by Wilfred Shaw. The melancholy, tragic Irish melody, Fields of Athenry was followed by the patriotic Anthem (no man, no madness) from the musical Chess.
The evening’s programme took an unusual and surprising turn in that it is rare to hear a choir accompanist perform piano solos. The choir and the audience were delighted and thrilled by Stephen Berry’s playing of Chopin’s Military Polonaise, Opus 40 No.1 in A Major, followed by what is arguably the fore-runner of modern jazz, the 1902 ragtime piece by Scott Joplin; The Entertainer. Both renditions were as much a surprise to the Choir as they were to the audience and made a welcome addition to our concert programme. The choir returned to sing a romantic selection including Can’t Help Falling in Love, made famous by Elvis Presley and Let It be Me, a major hit for the Everly Brothers in 1960 and Welsh romantic love song, the Dewi Morris composition ‘Lleucu Llwyd – Lucy Grey’ reputedly the mistress of Owain Glyndwr. This concert section finalised with a search for The Lost Chord once sung by the great Caruso at a concert to raise funds for the victims of the Titanic disaster in 1912.
The interval was followed by a mix of traditional pieces including Welsh hymn, Rachie written by Caradog Roberts, The Music’s Always There with You by J Rutter and arranged by Stephen Berry, music from the Don Blut/Stephen Spielberg cartoon ‘An American Tail’ – Somewhere out there and another piece made famous by Elvis Presley, American Trilogy.
As if Stephen’s first half solo pieces weren’t enough, he complemented the evening with two transcriptions: his rendition of a medley from the musical ‘Calamity Jane’ had every one trying to find their ‘Secret Love’ by boarding the ‘Deadwood Stage‘ to the ‘Windy City’ in the ‘Black Hills of Dakota’. The whole audience and choir were imagining themselves on horse back as Stephen played through the favourites from this fabulous musical. Then, to everyone’s surprise the air was filled with soaring sounds of Lancaster planes as Stephen majestically played ‘The Dam Buster’s March‘, written by Eric Coates and used in the 1955 film ‘The Dam Busters’. Stephen’s accomplished playing had everyone humming to probably the most famous British military march. A young piano student James from the audience, proudly volunteered to turn the pages.
As Shirley Ann James said ‘How do we follow that?’ Well, we did with You Raise me up recorded by not only Westlife and Josh Grogan, but many others including Aled Jones. On from this with Eli Jenkins’ Prayer from Dylan Thomas’ ‘Under Milk Wood’, sung unaccompanied to Troyte’s Chant , the wish of every choir, May You Always Have a Song and finally closing to ‘O Gymru‘ with soloist, baritone Tommy Hole.
Closing remarks from Mervyn Roberts included his sincere thanks for everyone’s contribution to the evening and a tribute to the wonderful work carried out by the Macmillan Nurses Cancer Support. He announced that the evening had raised nearly £400 to help this deserving charity.
Many thanks must go to the volunteer bar staff and all who helped set out the hall.
The Choir always welcomes new members and the hall in Mill Lane, Caldicot is open to visitors on any Monday or Thursday night from 7-00pm. Please click on the CONTACTS tab above if you would like more information.